jaileress

English

Alternative forms

• jailoress
• gaoleress
• gaoloress (rare)

Etymology

jailer +‎ -ess

Noun

jaileress (plural jaileresses)

1. (obsolete) A female jailer.
   • 1870, Frances Eastwood, Geoffrey the Lollard‎^[1], page 171:

     Sit down here, and let me cover you with my cloak, and we will eat the supper our good jaileresses have provided; we have had nothing since daybreak.

   • 1891, George Du Maurier, Peter Ibbetson‎^[2], page 201:

     As I got near to the avenue gate, instead of the school on my left there was a prison ; and at the door a little thick -set jailer, three feet high and much deformed, and a little deformed jaileress no bigger than himself, were cunningly watching me out of the corners of their eyes, and toothlessly smiling.

   • 1910, Alexandre Dumas, anonymous translator, The Chevalier de Maison Rouge‎^[3], P F Collier & Son, translation of original in French, page 176:

     As she finished these words, Simon, who was then coming up, heard them, and saw the jaileress place in her pocket the money Maurice had given her.